NHL: Australian Nathan Walker scores on debut for Washington Capitals against Montreal Canadiens

Australian Nathan Walker had a dream NHL debut, scoring in the Washington Capitals' 6-1 win over the Montreal Canadiens.

In the process, Walker made ice hockey history as the first Australian to play in an NHL game and the first Aussie to score a goal in the league.

Walker's brother Ryan, fiancée Tayla, mother Ceri and father Wayne were flown to Washington D.C. by the team to watch number 79 make his long-awaited debut and it couldn't have gone any better for the 23-year-old NHL rookie.

As the team was introduced the Sydney-raised left wing was welcomed onto Capital One Arena to a huge roar from fans waving "G'day Nate" posters, but few could have predicted just how much of an impact he would have.

At Washington's first home game of the year fans were in raptures early as the Capitals scored three goals inside the first three minutes through T.J. Oshie and captain Alex Ovechkin. Within the first period the latter already had his second hat-trick in as many games. It marked the first time since 1917 that a player had scored back-to-back hat-tricks to start a season.

Most Popular

Washington dominated from start to finish and Ovechkin finished with four goals for the night, but it was Walker who stole the show in his first game in the NHL.

The Aussie's goal came in the second period for the Capitals' last goal. Initially it was credited to newly acquired forward Devante Smith-Pelly who appeared to smash a shot past Canadiens goaltender Al Montoya. Upon review by officials however, Walker was awarded the goal, with replays showing the puck glanced his left leg on its way to the back of the net.

After the update was announced Washington fans erupted into cheers as Walker was congratulated by his teammates with Men At Work's 'Down Under' blaring in the arena. And no-one was cheering louder than his family who were in tears in the stands.

Back in the locker room after the game, Walker was swarmed by local and international media. He said the debut alone was "special" but to score as well was something else.

"As a kid you always think you're going to play in the NHL. I just tried to take it all in and enjoy myself.

"I couldn't stop smiling, I tried to be serious, but I had a big smile on my face."

As the first Australian to play in the NHL, Walker admitted he was nervous before the puck drop, but eventually settled into the pace of the game in the top tier of ice hockey.

"It was fast. It was everything that I thought it would be and I finally felt a little more comfortable on the ice as we got towards the third period," he said.

"Hopefully it can inspire them a little bit, that it can be done from Australia. If they have dreams, follow them and definitely pursue them and do what it takes to get where they want to go.

"The road was a long, tough one but the will to keep at it, keep working hard, definitely paid off."

Ovechkin was fine with his Capitals teammate soaking up the attention on debut.

"It's huge for him, he's going to remember it for his whole life," Ovechkin said of Walker's goal after the game.

"His family is here, it's a special moment for him. We're very happy for him and hope he's going to continue to grow and be a very good player."

Walker, who was born in Wales but moved with his family to Sydney as a two-year-old, was drafted by Washington in 2014 as the 89th overall pick but has spent the last three years playing for the Capitals' American Hockey League affiliate team, the Hershey Bears.

In the last two years in the AHL Walker has been in career-best form, scoring 28 goals with 36 assists in the regular season and helping the Bears reach the Calder Cup playoffs, where he scored four goals. In June the Capitals organisation re-signed him for another two years, standing to make $US650,000 a year playing in the NHL or $US125,000 a year in the AHL.

“It’s pretty special, not just for myself but for the whole hockey community back home. Hopefully it can get some more people playing hockey back in Australia,” Walker told Wide World of Sports.

“I think it will mean a lot to everyone that has supported me, from my family, to my fiancée and my friends.”

Walker plays as a left-wing in the forwards, setting up and scoring goals for his team. Capitals coach Barry Trotz has been a big admirer of the Aussie's speed and tenacity on the ice, qualities that helped Walker finally get his NHL call-up.

“He’s got a really unique skillset. He’s explosive, he’s quick, he gets on people, he causes havoc. It’s not nice to play against,” Trotz said of Walker earlier this week.

“A lot of those Australian qualities that you endear with those south of the equator, he has that mentality and mindset. He’s going to make you pay, he’s going to play hard against you and he’s going to have an effect on the ice.”